Application of Mechanical Forces on Axon Growth Cones via Magnetic Nanoparticles to Enhance Axon Regeneration in Central Nervous System

Informations projet

MagForce4AxonGrowth

N° de convention de subvention: 273420

Projet clôturé

Date de début 5 Septembre 2011

Date de fin 4 Septembre 2013

Financé au titre de

• Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Coût total € 194 810,40

Contribution de l’UE € 194 810,40

Coordonné par

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN
Irlande

Objectif

The lack of axon regeneration following spinal cord injury (SCI) diminishes patients’ quality of life and poses a significant economic burden on the society. This project aims to investigate the complex axon guidance mechanism following a SCI scenario by applying mechanical tension on the growth cones (GCs) of central nervous system (CNS) axons via novel magnetic nanoparticles that are functionalized with neuronal cell adhesion molecule. It is hypothesized that the complex interaction of chemical and physical guidance cues at the cytoskeletal (CSK) level can be modulated by mechanically activating specific signalling pathways, e.g. RhoGTPases. To test this hypothesis, mechanical tension will be applied to multiple GCs simultaneously, using a magnetic tweezers system integrated with a microfluidic culture device, which grants exclusive access to axonal areas. The effect of tension on axon outgrowth will be characterized as a function of chemical and mechanical environment, while examining the roles of Rho GTPase signalling and CSK structure in this mechanotransduction process. In essence, this project poses a biological hypothesis that can only be tested using a combination of sophisticated engineering methods. The results of this multidisciplinary project will provide a better understanding of axon elongation mechanisms and potentially become a promising therapeutic approach for SCI. The fellow is a mechanical / biomedical engineer with experience in microfluidic neuron culture and live cell microscopy; whereas the host is a world leader in single molecule biophysics. This project will not only contribute to the scientific competency of Europe by tackling a very relevant medical problem, but also provide the fellow an excellent opportunity to gain high quality scientific training and complementary skills, necessary to obtain an independent researcher position in the European Research Area.

Champ scientifique (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classe les projets avec EuroSciVoc, une taxonomie multilingue des domaines scientifiques, grâce à un processus semi-automatique basé sur des techniques TLN. Voir: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.

• sciences naturelles › sciences biologiques › neurobiologie
• sciences naturelles › sciences biologiques › biologie cellulaire
• sciences naturelles › sciences physiques › optique › microscopie
• sciences naturelles › sciences biologiques › biophysique
• ingénierie et technologie › nanotechnologie › nanomatériaux

Vous devez vous identifier ou vous inscrire pour utiliser cette fonction

Programme(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Thème(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development"

Appel à propositions

FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF
Voir d’autres projets de cet appel

Régime de financement

MC-IEF -

Coordinateur

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN

• Contribution de l’UE: € 194 810,40
• Adresse: BELFIELD ; 4 Dublin ; Irlande
• Région: Ireland › Eastern and Midland › Dublin
• Type d’activité: Établissements d’enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
• Coût total: Aucune donnée